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Phelps is originally from
Montana where he says he was "fascinated by the outdoors, by the spatial sense." He attended Sentinel High School at the same time as the other members of Silkworm were at Hellgate High School. He had a sister who died in 1999 who shows up in his song's lyrics. He attended
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Phelps has played with
Pacific Northwest bands such as Ein Heit, which he joined in high school, and The Wilma Pool. He founded Silkworm after Ein Heit broke up in 1987. More recently he teamed up with G. Stuart Dahlquist, brother of the late Silkworm drummer Michael Dahlquist, to form the band
97:). The band, known as The Downer Trio shares instrumentation with Phelps primarily on vocals and guitar, Robert Mercer on bass, and William Herzog on drums. The group continues recording, and touring, but with much less frequency than in the 1990s when there were tours with
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129:. They occasionally play as The Downer Quartet when joined by Scott Malin. The band was dormant for nearly a decade as Phelps managed and overcame a drinking problem. They released their last album,
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283:"Joel RL Phelps (Silkworm, The Downer Trio) and G. Stuart Dahlquist (Burning Witch, Asva) end years of will they/won't they speculation with new collaboration as Thine"
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University of
Montana in Missoula where he was a straight-A student. He currently lives in Vancouver BC, where he has worked helping people recover from addictions.
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61:(born 1966) is an American musician and songwriter originally from Montana, known for his work with the indie rock bands
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Phelps left
Silkworm in 1994 in the middle of a tour, and recorded an album in 1995 with members of other bands such as
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105:. The Trio has shared the stage with many notable acts such as
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439:"Overcoming Addiction and Making Albums with Joel RL Phelps"
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Dama/Libra. He also writes and performs solo material.
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538:"Come Back to the Five & Dime, Joel R.L. Phelps"
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358:"Joel RL Phelps is indie rock's best-kept secret"
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228:"Joel RL Phelps is indie rock's best-kept secret"
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256:"Revisiting Silkworm, a Band Born in Missoula"
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487:"Interview: Joel RL Phelps by Matt Dornan"
463:"Joel RL Phelps and the Downer Trio: Gala"
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383:"Joel RL Phelps and the Downer Trio: Gala"
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589:"Joel R.L. Phelps & The Downer Trio"
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167:Spokane Motel Blues 7" (1995)
786:The Marco Collins Session EP
778:His Absence Is A Blessing EP
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437:Laugher, Nick (2014-04-24).
414:JOEL RL PHELPS TheDOWNERTRIO
356:Heller, Jason (2014-08-13).
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164:Warm Springs Night (1995)
85:and the Sweet Hereafter,
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617:Joel RL Phelps Home Page
189:Inland Empires EP (2000)
870:Musicians from Montana
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41:Background information
170:Alita Aleta 7" (1996)
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65:and The Downer Trio.
794:You Are Dignified EP
516:Missoula Independent
311:D A M A / L I B R A
844:The Crust Brothers
512:"Spinning Legends"
491:Comes with a Smile
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119:Bonny Prince Billy
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307:"ABOUT / CONTACT"
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127:Modest Mouse
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880:1966 births
703:In The West
669:Matt Kadane
666:Tim Midyett
573:17 December
522:17 December
394:October 22,
266:17 December
239:October 22,
195:Gala (2013)
146:Discography
133:, in 2013.
111:Billy Bragg
103:Mark Eitzel
83:Jesse Sykes
864:Categories
802:Chokes! EP
663:Andy Cohen
599:2020-12-16
548:2020-12-16
496:2020-12-16
472:2020-12-16
467:PopMatters
448:2020-12-17
420:2020-12-16
388:PopMatters
367:2020-12-16
342:2020-12-16
332:"Silkworm"
317:2020-12-16
292:2020-12-16
210:References
200:Dama/Libra
117:, Palace,
107:Television
743:Lifestyle
735:Blueblood
727:Developer
719:Firewater
711:Libertine
91:Sunn O)))
79:Jessamine
653:Silkworm
183:3 (1998)
63:Silkworm
410:"ABOUT"
824:(1998)
805:(2006)
797:(2003)
789:(1995)
781:(1993)
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695:L'ajre
125:, and
101:, and
73:Career
362:Music
87:Earth
575:2020
524:2020
443:VICE
396:2019
268:2020
241:2019
205:Claw
131:Gala
49:1966
46:Born
770:EPs
115:Low
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